Glasgow Rangers draw with Hearts and hand Celtic initiative
Rangers handed Celtic an invitation to stride towards a fourth successive Scottish title when they threw away a two-goal lead against Hearts – Kyle Lafferty and Barry Ferguson the scorers – and were stunned by a double inside four minutes from Christos Karipidis and Ruben Palazuelos.
By Roddy Forsyth
Instead of going top on goal difference, Rangers must now hope Dundee United damage Celtic at Tannadice today, otherwise the champions can go five points clear with nine games to play.
Hearts, with only Christian Nade up front, rarely provided him with anything resembling adequate supply.
Instead, on their spasmodic upfield forays, they relied on lumped balls towards the big forward and throw-ins intended to generate free-kicks near the Rangers box. There was nothing doing on that front, however, as Rangers played a pressing game and produced some of their best football this year.
Walter Smith's players were ahead inside eight minutes after David Obua's poor clearance was snapped up by DaMarcus Beasley, who picked out Lafferty inside the box and the forward responded with a perfect touch and drive to beat Jamie McDonald.
Lafferty's afternoon came to an end 25 minutes later when he left on a stretcher in obvious distress after suffering a foot injury, to be replaced by Nacho Novo.
However, Rangers doubled their advantage just before the break following a corner. Pedro Mendes was able to find Ferguson on the edge of the area and the captain controlled before sweeping the ball beyond McDonald.
Hearts had to change their approach and Csaba Laszlo responded by sending on Calum Elliot to play alongside Nade. It proved an inspirational move, though Hearts might have been dead and buried when Novo struck a low drive against the post.
Hearts retaliated and, from a corner, Karipidis met the ball first and although Beasley turned it back from below the crossbar, the assistant referee flagged that the ball had crossed the line. Within three minutes Hearts were level and again it was a high ball that inflicted the wound as Elliot's knock-down was thrashed past McGregor by Palazuelos.
Taken from telegraph.co.uk
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